The Paris Peace Conference

Question 1

Why did the Big Three meet in Paris in 1918?

Answer 1

To work out how to stop a terrible war like WW1 happenign ever again.

Question 2

When did Germany sign the armistice?

Answer 2

In November 1918, to end WW1

Question 3

What followed the armistice, who was there?

Answer 3

The Paris Peace Conference, where a peace treaty would be discussed. The Big three dominated the conference, Britain, France and the US, who all had conflicting views.

Question 4

Woodrow Wilson, the American president drew up 14 points, supposedly the key to fair peace, what did these include?

Answer 4

Self Determination for countries that were once part of the Turkish or Austro-Hungarian empires.

France to regain Alsace Lorrain
Independence for Belgium
Poland to become an independent state with access to the sea

A league of Nations to be set up to settle disputes between countries by peaceful means.

Ban on secret treaties, and a reduction in arms

Question 5

What were France’s views (Clemenceau’s) on the Treaty of Versailles? (Peace treaty)
Suffer
Threat
Overall

Answer 5

After suffering enormous damage in WW1 especially in the north, with large areas of land devastated, destroyed factories and over 1 million deaths, he was under pressure from his country to make Germany suffer.
He also wanted to prevent the possibility of future German threats.
He wanted a harsh treaty that would punish Germany and cripple its economy so it could not threaten France.

Question 6

What were the USA's views (Wilson's) on the Treaty of Versailles? (Peace treaty)
Affect of war
Influence 
Germany
Two aims

Answer 6

Little damage caused to the country as they only joined in 1917, unlike the others, with low casualties and damage.
Ideas influenced by the 14 points.
Believed Germany was responsible for the war but didn’t want to punish them too harshly as this would lead to German’s wanting revenge and a desire for another war.
His two aims were…
Self determination
International cooperation - settling disputes by the countries working together

Question 7

What were Britain’s views (David Lloyd George’s) on the Treaty of Versailles? (Peace treaty)
Motives
However..
Middle ground

Answer 7

Bitterness towards Germany
Harsh treaty to make Germany pay
But he did fear, like the US that a harsh treaty will encourage revenge.
He also wanted the two to be trading again.
He was between Wilson and Clemenceau, one too extreme and one too reliant on the 14 points.

Question 8

Summarise the aims of Woodrow Wilson in the Treaty of Versailles…

Answer 8

Create peace in Europe
Punish Germany but not enough to prompt revenge
Create the LON
Self Determination

Question 9

Summarise the aims of Clemenceau in the Treaty of Versailles…

Answer 9

Germany paying for the damage caused by WW1

Prevent Germany from attacking France again

Question 10

Summarise the aims of David Lloyd George in the Treaty of Versailles…

Answer 10

End German threat to navy and empire
Germany pay for the war but not too much… not wanting communism
Wanted to continue trade with Germany for the economy.

Question 11

What is an armistice?

Answer 11

A cease fire

Question 12

What is self determination?

Answer 12

The right of nations to rule themselves

Question 13

What are the 14 points for/about/idea?

Answer 13

The key to fair peace between nations.

Question 14

How did they go about getting the Treaty of V signed and implemented?

Answer 14

The German leaders were told the terms in May 1919, forced to sign the TofV the following month.
The Germans referred to it as the Diktat, the dictated rather than negotiated.

Question 15

What were the main terms of the T of V? (6)

Answer 15

War guilt
German armed forces restrictions
Reparations
Loss of territories
Anschluss
The LON

Question 16

What article defined war guilt, …

Answer 16

Article 231, this clause stated that Germany had to agree it was responsible for starting the war.

Question 17

What were the affects of the Treaty of Versailles on the German armed forces?
Men
Air
Navy
Soldiers
Rhine
Machinery

Answer 17

The army was limited to 100,000 men
Air force was disbanded, =0
Navy made of only 15,000 men and only battle 6 ships
Conscription was banned, soldiers had to be volunteers
Demilitarisation of the Rhineland, allies were allowed to keep an army of occupation on the West bank of the Rine for 15 years, no German troops were allowed in that area.
No armored vehicles, submarines or military aircraft.

Question 18

Describe the reparations…

Answer 18

The allies agreed that Germany should pay compensation to the damages caused by the war. The exact figure, £6600 million was set by the reparations commission in 1921.

Question 19

Describe the loss of territories and % loss…

Answer 19

Germany lost 13% of its land, 15% of agricultural land
Lost 6 million people
Losing Posen and West Prussia, to Poland.
The LON ran the Memel, Danzig and Saar.
The Rhineland was demilitarised.
And Alsace-Lorraine was given back to France.
Many colonies in Africa were given to Britain and France under the control of the LON.

Question 20

What was the Anschluss and its role in the treaty?

Answer 20

It means the joining together of Austria and Germany, forbidden by the treaty.

Question 21

What was the LON?

Answer 21

Previous methods of peace-keeping had failed to it was set up as an international police force. Germany was not allowed to join until it proved it was a peace-loving country.

Question 22

What are reparations?

Answer 22

Repair, or the provisions of compensation for damage caused.

Question 23

What were the strengths of the T of V?
Europe
Population
Harsh

Answer 23

Brought peace to Europe, and set up an international organisation to preserve the peace, LON.
Germany was allowed to stay a whole country, unlike Austria-Hungary, with 60 million people, 20 million more than France.
Less harsh than Germany’s treaty with Russia where Russia lost in 1918, nearly one third of its land area.

Question 24

What were the weaknesses of the T of V?

Answer 24

It left Germany with many grievances
They could not afford the reparations
Britain and France fell out over the reparation payments
Treaty punished Germany enough to prompt a want for revenge but not enough to stop it.
Wilson pinned to much faith on the LON

Question 25

Why dis the Germans object to the treaty...
Feelings of injustice
Reparations
Loss of territory
LON
Military terms
War guilt clause

Answer 25

German leaders did not feel they alone caused the war, they felt they should have been involved in the negotiations of the treaty.
Gs felt these were unfair and that they could not afford to pay for the reparations as the economy had been crippled by the cost of fighting in the WW1
Loss of territory was deeply resented by the people, some G now lived in countries ruled by other governments, the Saar, an important industrial area was now controlled by the LON and effectively taken over by France.
Insulted by not being allowed to join the LON
Felt the army was too small for the size of country, the army was a symbol of their pride.
They did not feel solely responsible for the war.